‘Planet Earth III’ Recap: ‘Oceans’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Still from Episode Two of ‘Planet Earth III’ – ‘Oceans’ Courtesy of BBC America.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Planet Earth III’. To revisit the premiere, click here.
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Something that is genuinely fascinating about this age of discovery that we live within, is how little humanity has learned about our world. Which seems like a contradiction since we have indeed studied so much about terra firma. For we are now aware of what makes us ill and how to beat it, how the biomes work, how the currents move air around the globe, and we’ve even figured out how to replicate the flight of the birds. Not to mention, we even have humans living above us amongst the stars. Yet, despite having such incredible knowledge about our world… there really is little we know about it. Courtesy of the very element that gives us life, water.

For we simply have not been able to explore the depths of our oceans, and understandably so. For it creates pressure whereas space does not, making it our final frontier at the moment and that’s why documentaries such as Planet Earth III are so important. Because they can help us with that knowledge and have teams dedicated to learning and that is why ‘Oceans’ was such a compelling watch. For it took us on a knowledge laden tour of the waters that seem to stretch on forever beyond our coasts. Wherein we briefly came to learn how the coral reefs and kelp reefs are filled to the brim with clustered and thriving aquatic life. Where everything lives in homeostasis through a food chain, and once we get beyond those beautiful lumps of kelp and the colors of the corals… the open sea awaits.

A place that is as vast and empty as space itself, but there are signs of life out there. Since the kelp that floats away from the coasts is a breeding and feeding ground for fish. And of course, there are hints of us out there as well. Since plastics are floating about there, some of which cause harm and some of which serve as a life raft of sorts. Where tiny little crabs can hang onto it for dear life until they can find a better mode of transport, often through a turtle that will carry them across the sea in exchange for routine cleanings and oddly enough, despite its vast nature, man and nature are finding ways to coexist out there in the middle of the waters. Since this tour helped us to learn that seals and birds are now relying upon our immense fishing industry to feed and thrive.

But of course… no tour of the ocean and its vastness would be complete… without heading into its depths. For far beneath us is utter darkness and pressures untold and believe it not, life that seems to be not of this Earth. For so many species down here don’t require adaptations to keep themselves safe from ultraviolet rays or the other harsh conditions we find above. They simply live, and feed and move about the darkness with an understanding of the void we do not harbor. Not to mention, there are thriving communities down there. Since we had the distinct honor of learning about a species of octopus that sacrifices everything in huddled and warm community birthing areas to ensure the survival of their species. Giving rise to some fascinating parallels to the world above. 

If anything, this was just… an incredible episode when all is said and done. One that really did remind us that we have so much to learn about our oceans. For they are vast and teeming with life and surprises that science should have in hand. But alas, at this time it’s not a priority to map out our oceans. But it should be. Because knowledge is indeed power and who knows what amazing discoveries we could make if we focused on the darkness below us. But for now, we can learn through shows like this, and hopefully the wonders seen here inspire someone to make its exploration the priority. So that at long last… all the mysteries of the Earth are solved. Until next time.

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